Just Like Heaven
“I’m lost and I’m found”
-Just Like Heaven, The Cure
Timeframe: Mid January, 1986 (2 Months Before Season 4)
It had been two weeks since Will and Chris last hung out. Two long and boring weeks. Chris didn’t know what happened. One day, they were sitting in his room together, listening to music, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Chris was a little upset that day, but he understood why Will wasn’t getting the hint about how he felt. However, the next day and the weeks after that, Will started pulling back. He wouldn’t talk to Chris the same way or light up with that smile the ravenette adored so much. He was silent in art and anytime he did open his mouth to say something, his voice was filled with a nervous tremble that was hard to miss.
Even now, as they were walking down the hall together towards the cafeteria, Will didn’t say a word. He looked like he couldn’t wait to get away. And so, without warning, Chris grabbed his bicep and pulled him into an empty classroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. He put a cover over the little window, so no one would notice the two where they shouldn’t be, before turning back to Will.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
Will looked startled, both by the question and by being dragged into the classroom so suddenly. He looked at Chris with a terror in his eyes, knowing he’d been caught doing exactly what Chris said. The brunette was so scared, afraid of saying the real reason he had been acting the way he had. So terrified of revealing the truth he felt like he could never say.
“I-I’m not…” he tried to lie. But Chris wasn’t having it.
“Yes, you are. Why?” Chris persisted.
Will’s heart pounded in his chest. He didn’t want to say it, but he knew he was running out of options. Chris wasn’t gonna give it up–he knew Will a little too well for that, even after such a short time. Chris paid too much attention to him to believe any lie he tried to give him. He hoped he wouldn’t regret what he was about to tell the taller boy. He would break down and cry for sure, but maybe, just maybe, he would find someone who knew him for who he was, and not who he pretended to be.
“I didn’t understand it at first… the song…” He started to stumble over his words, his eyes glossing over. “I-I didn’t pay enough attention. Once I did understand, I didn’t know what to do – I didn’t–” He sobbed out the last word. “I didn’t know if what I thought – what I think – you meant was the truth.”
Chris paused for a moment, studying the crying boy in front of him. His heart was breaking into pieces just at the sight of his tears. He knew this was coming, though. He knew Will would be scared when he finally understood what Chris had been telling him. But he still asked.
“Are you scared of the truth?”
All Will could do was look at him and nod through his tears. Chris couldn’t take it. He grabbed the boy by the shoulder and pulled him into his arms. One arm went around his shoulders and the other around his waist. Will set his hands on Chris’ biceps, crying into his shoulder.
“It’s okay… I’m scared too,” Chris started. “But I can’t keep hiding how I feel about you.” Will pulled away to look up at Chris, his heart beating even faster than it already was. “I just can’t,” the ravenette shook his head, staring into Will’s eyes.
Will let out a shaky breath. Chris glanced down toward his lips. If he did this now, there was no going back. “I really, really like you, Will Byers.”
Then… he did it. He leaned in slowly, giving Will enough time to pull away if he wanted to, before crashing their lips together. Will freezes for a moment, before melting into the kiss. Chris exhales through his nose, deepening the kiss. He cups Will’s face in his hands, just holding him there, savoring this moment. This is what he’s been wanting for months, and now that it was happening he just wanted to enjoy this, alone with Will in the empty classroom.
Will’s mind was going a hundred miles a minute. His friends back in Hawkins all had partners before and had dating experience, but he had never done this before. His hands were shaking as one hovered over the back of Chris’ head before placing it there, feeling the silky strands. The other stayed where it was on the older’s bicep. He couldn’t help but think about how right this felt, despite everyone thinking it was so wrong. He finally felt safe in this unfamiliar place, finally knowing he wasn’t as alone as he felt.
They slowly pulled away from each other, Chris looking at Will with an adoration Will had never seen before. Chris let out a laugh, letting his left hand fall to Will’s hip while his right thumb brushes his cheek, wiping away a stray tear from before. Will gives him a soft smile, not really knowing what to do now.
“You okay?” Chris smiles.
“Yeah…” Will nods. It felt so freeing to be with Chris.
“So… How do you feel about… me?” Chris asks, as if Will didn’t just kiss back.
“I thought it was kind of obvious,” Will laughed a little. Chris just looked up with his eyes, nodding while letting out hum.
“So does this mean… we could like… do that regularly… or…?” Chris teased.
“Chris!” Will exclaimed, laughing again.
Chris sighed with an overjoyed look on his face, “I’m gonna take that as a yes. We should get out of here before we get caught, though. Lunch is almost over and I kinda wanna eat.” He took a look at his watch. Will nodded in response, removing his arms from Chris’ body. Chris walked over to the door, opening it to reveal an empty hallway, all the students being in the cafeteria, before letting Will exit first. They walked down the hallway in silence, sharing small smiles as they glanced at each other.
